Our "former Syracuse announcers in the Bigs series continues with Bob McElligott, who's the current voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets. McElligott joined Kate Callaway on a Zoom call earlier this week.

“I thought I was going to be a Major League Baseball guy, that’s what I got into this for,” said McElligot. “Hockey found me and I found that I really liked it a lot.”

For ten seasons, Bob McElligott served as the voice of the Crunch and SkyChiefs. In 2009, he got the call-up to the Columbus Blue Jackets radio booth.

“The lessons that I got from being there for a decade in that town are lessons that I use every day in what I do,” McElligott said. “Just like a player, you learn how to be a pro in the minor leagues.”

During that decade in the minors, “Bobby Mac” was in the front row for many memorable moments, from seeing the late Roy Halladay on the mound for the SkyChiefs, to watching history on the ice.

“The most memorable thing was the team that we had that won 15 in a row down the stretch,” McElligot said. “There was something special about that team. Before that winning streak we were out of the playoffs. By the time the season was over, they had gotten second place and home ice for the second round. It was like that team could do no wrong.”

Even more memorable though are the people the Pennsylvania native met along the way.

“I cherish those relationships because at the end of the day, people are what make it special,” McElligot said. “You can work anywhere in the world and if you have special people around you it’ll be a special place. To me, Syracuse will always be a special place.”